News

OpenOcean's new ESG Start Pack for software startups is out! The Starter Pack includes: Our recommended ESG roadmap for software startups, including deep dives on each focus area, main KPIs to track your progress and practical advice to get started. We hope you find it useful!

Our new ESG Starter Pack for software startups is out

Tom Henriksson

We are thrilled to welcome Naureen Zahid as a new Director in the OpenOcean team, focusing on Investor Relations.

Welcome to the OpenOcean team – Naureen Zahid, our new Investor Relations Director

OpenOcean, a leading European venture capital firm, has released its Automation Market Map, showing that private funding for enterprise (software) automation companies hit $17.86 billion in 2021 - up 230% on the previous year.

New Automation Market Map is published – Software Automation private funding grew by 230% in 2021

Tom Henriksson

We sat down with three key people who’ve been there from the beginning to understand how MariaDB was able to break records. Read the whole story of MariaDB here.

How MariaDB became the world-leading open-source database company

Michael “Monty” Widenius

Advisor

The team at OpenOcean couldn’t be more excited to announce our latest investment in Strong Network having led the €5.1m seed round alongside Wingman.

Our newest investment into DevOps: Strong Network

Sam Hields

Principal

Finnish startup ecosystem supports Ukraine – Free work spaces at Maria01 for our Ukrainian friends

Patrik Backman

Our newest investment into the cybersecurity space, Binalyze (with a cool short name B!), where we led a $10M round, is one of those cutting-edge innovations that will shape the future of Enterprise Forensics.

Our newest investment into cybersecurity: Binalyze

Ekaterina Almasque

In 2014, together with HV Capital, OpenOcean led the Series-A funding round for an early stage mobile advertising technology company from London called LoopMe. Almost 8 years on, LoopMe has grown to a very profitable business with almost 100 million USD in revenue.

Announcing LoopMe exit: celebrating the next chapter of a real Ad-Venture

Tom Henriksson

Exploring 2023 Automation Market Map: OpenOcean’s 13 New Unicorns

OpenOcean, a prominent European software and deep technology Venture Capital (VC) firm, has revealed thirteen nascent unicorns, denoting companies with a valuation soaring beyond the illustrious $1 billion mark. This unveiling comes as a part of OpenOcean’s 2023 Automation Market Map, a comprehensive compass designed to illuminate the intricate terrain of the enterprise automation software realm.

Startup Reporter

OpenOcean releases 2023 edition of automation market map, spotlights $13.5B raised by sector in H1 2023

Helsinki and London-based VC firm OpenOcean has updated its automation market map, adding over 100 companies from the year prior. The firm curates a collection of over 810 automation companies, each valued at over $100 million, but also includes a number of early-stage startups that they deem most promising, all with the aim of enhancing the understanding of the enterprise automation software sector.

Tech.eu

‘Tech VC funding is and always has been a boys’ club’

For the past number of years, Ekaterina Almasque has dedicated herself to advocating for women in the venture capital industry. She is a co-founder of European Women in VC, an advocacy group she helped set up with a group of women who were equally frustrated with the blocks preventing talented women from breaking into the scene.

Silicon Republic

From the Ashes of Tech Nation, Rises Tech Nation 2.0 for UK SMEs

“Tech Nation 2.0 will be especially important for deep tech firms in fields like quantum technology. These companies have timelines measured in decades. They rely on targeted incentives and funding from the government to ensure continued progress is made. Furthermore, we need to establish the right procedures to guide visionary founders with innovative software concepts from initial whiteboard sketches all the way to becoming publicly listed companies in Piccadilly Square.”

Fintech Times

Tech industry hits out at plans to limit UK’s AI Safety Summit to 100 delegates

Ekaterina Almasque, general partner at deep tech venture capital company OpenOcean said key players in the industry should have a seat at the table, but excluding prominent start-ups risks decisions being made without critical input from those at the frontlines. “To properly regulate AI in a way that fosters innovation, we need to make every effort to connect investors, startups, and policymakers,” she says. “This involves increasing R&D budgets, creating sovereign funds to support strategic initiatives, and attracting top talent into start-ups. However, we cannot adequately take these steps without the presence and perspective of the startups themselves.”

TechMonitor

The era of lean unicorns

Right now, we’re entering an era of lean unicorns powered by AI and a modular approach to building a business. A recent Sifted article, featuring our GP Ekaterina Almasque, delved into this new, emerging age, shaped by rising interest rates and cautious VCs. As market conditions continue to stay uncertain, founders must use their resources wisely. New solutions are paving the way for leaner startups, with AI tools at the forefront. However, their use should be taken with a grain of salt.

Sifted

Letter: How university spinouts can win more investment

In a recent article, the Financial Times reported a decline in funding for UK university spinouts, marking the first decrease in a decade. Ekaterina Almasque's letter highlighted the critical challenges faced by UK university spinouts.

Financial Times

A policy for the future: Investigating UK government R&D investment

The vibrant start-up ecosystem in the UK makes it a premier investment destination for global capital, fueling innovation and contributing to robust economic growth. Raising £24 billion ($29bn) in 2022, the UK tech sector leads Europe and ranks third globally. However, sustaining this success requires a clear R&D support strategy.

Datacenter Dynamics